Summer 2014

What iROUND

Means to You page 6

A NUTRITION

LABEL MAKEOVER

page 7

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS of Iowa Lutheran page 4

A Word From Our President and CEO

As the weather warms up and the outdoors begins to blossom, we’re often

reminded of new beginnings.At UnityPoint Health – Des Moines,

we celebrate every new beginning with our patients. Recently, we put that celebration to music! Read about our new tradition of playing a lullaby after every birth on page 3.

We’re also celebrating the arrival of innovative new programs at our facilities. Turn to page 6 to learn how iRound is adding another dimension to patient care—allowing physicians and other providers the opportunity to spend more time offering personalized care at the bedside.

Also in this issue, you can read about a recent recognition of UnityPoint Clinic’s medical home program (page 3).

We encourage you and your family to get out and about this summer—and Live Well!

Sincerely,

Eric Crowell President & CEO

Off to the Races for Organ Donation

Mark Your Calendar!

Joey Gase, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and donor family member, joined us in April to kick off Donate Life Month to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation. Joey’s mom, Mary Jo Gase, died of a brain aneurysm in April 2011, and her family chose to donate her organs.

Jordan Shaw, who received a kidney transplant from Mary Jo, also attended our kickoff event. We were honored to have Joey and Jordan share their stories of hope and giving.

Interested in becoming

an organ donor? Visit iowadonornetwork.org.

Join us for these fun upcoming events.Downtown Farmers’ MarketSaturdays, May 3–Oct. 25Court Avenue DistrictYoga in the ParkSaturday mornings, June–SeptemberGrays Lake ParkUnderstanding Me! A Mother/Daughter WorkshopSaturday, June 28Iowa Methodist/Blank Children’s campusGirls’ Night in the VillageThursday, Sept. 18Iowa State Historical Building

UnityPoint Health – Des Moines will also be participating in the Principal Charity Classic

(May 27–June 1), Dam to Dam (May 31), 80/35 music festival (July 4 & 5) and Hy-Vee Triathlon

(August 31). For more events, visit unitypoint.org/livewell.

2 UnityPoint Health – Des Moines • unitypoint.org

To take a virtual tour of our maternity centers

and learn about all the ways we make the birthing

experience special, visit unitypoint.org/pregnancy.

Every time a baby is born at a UnityPoint Health – Des Moines maternity center, the whole hospital shares the family’s joy.

We started a tradition in January 2014: Following each birth at our maternity centers located within Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital and Methodist West

Hospital, an instrumental version of “Rock-a-bye Baby” plays throughout the hospital to celebrate the new arrival. Parents and siblings are invited to push a button to start the tune that lets everyone know they’re beginning a wonderful new chapter in their lives.

“Big brothers and sisters get so excited about pushing the button—often, they say, ‘I want to do it again!’” says Stephanie Nusbaum, MSN, RN, manager of maternity

services at Iowa Lutheran and Methodist West. “The lullaby brings happiness to families and staff alike. Some employees keep count of the number of

times the song plays and remark to our maternity staff, ‘Oh, you were busy today! I heard so many lullabies!’ Hospitals aren’t always happy places, but the music uplifts everyone and reminds them of the

renewal of the circle of life.”That reminder makes for a pretty special

birthday gift.

Seven UnityPoint Clinic locations in the Des Moines area were recently awarded recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) 2011 Program.

The Sweetest Sound

UnityPoint Clinic is transforming its primary care practices to the medical home model, which promotes systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication and patient involvement.

“The NCQA PCMH is a model of 21st-century primary care that combines access, teamwork and technology to deliver quality care and improve health,” says Margaret E. O’Kane, NCQA president. “NCQA’s PCMH 2011 Recognition shows that UnityPoint Clinic has the tools, systems and resources to provide patients the right care at the right time.”

“A medical home emphasizes the importance of an ongoing patient-provider relationship to ensure an individual’s health is managed appropriately over time,” adds Patricia Newland, MD, physician lead of the medical home implementation team for UnityPoint Clinic. “The provider leads a team of nurses, medical assistants and other staff who are collectively responsible for providing or coordinating the care, education and support that patients need.”

To find a UnityPoint Clinic primary care provider in your community,

visit unitypoint.org.

UnityPoint Clinic Earns Medical Home Recognition

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of Quality Patient CareIowa Lutheran Hospital celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. A look back at its rich history reveals the success behind Des Moines’ “best-kept secret.”

100 Years

It was―a cold, blustery winter night in 1908. So begins the story guest relations coordinator Vicki Berberich likes to tell of Iowa Lutheran’s origins. A young woman fell ill at her home in east Des Moines. She was taken by horse-drawn ambulance across the Des Moines River to the nearest hospital. But a train passing through town delayed the journey, and the woman died en route. Spurred by the incident, Rev. A.P. Westerberg of First Lutheran Church in Des Moines worked with two parishioners to create the concept of a hospital on the east side of Des Moines.

By 1910, the newly formed Iowa Lutheran Hospital Society (now known as the Iowa Lutheran Hospital Auxiliary) began raising funds to help build Iowa Lutheran. On March 13, 1914, Iowa Lutheran opened its doors.

By the Community, For the CommunityThe Iowa Lutheran Auxiliary is now the oldest

continuously operated auxiliary in Iowa, and one of the oldest in the nation.

“Iowa Lutheran began out of a need for service,” Berberich says. “When you walk through our doors, you still get that

feeling of a patient-centered, community-rooted hospital. Patients say we’re Des Moines’ best-kept secret.”

A Place to Work and HealSusan Evans, director of development at Iowa Lutheran,

attributes the hospital’s compassionate patient care to an emphasis on nursing. Iowa Lutheran operated its own nursing school for more than 60 years, from the first graduating class in 1917 to the last graduating class in 1978. Evans says compliments about the nursing team are one of the most common types of feedback they receive from discharged patients.

Evans, whose office is near the physician lounge, also notices the strong camaraderie and sense of pride among physicians.

“Our smaller size means everyone here knows each other―and they all work well together,” Evans says. “It’s a great environment to serve the community.”

Iowa Lutheran’s community ties continue through its thriving volunteer program. Community volunteers routinely offer their services, whether it be operating the gift shop, delivering flowers to patient’s bedsides, or donning red vests

Remember When…

“In 1977, Iowa Lutheran Hospital opened the first Oncology Inpatient Unit in Des Moines and brought the first oncologist to our area. The unit was filled to capacity very quickly, treating around 20 to 30 patients each day. A young doctor named Tom Buroker soon arrived as the second oncologist to handle the large patient volume. Many of our early patients presented with advanced malignancies because there had been

no options for treatment in Des Moines. Oncology nurses were expected to initiate aggressive chemotherapy protocols on newly diagnosed cancer patients, while

also helping terminal patients die with dignity. Oncology patients required many antibiotics intravenously—most were on three different drugs—all given numerous times a day. I remember spending more than an hour every day just mixing the powdered medication and putting it into small IV bags. Needless to say, we

nurses had to build new skills very quickly.” —Brenda Long, RN

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Iowa Lutheran Hospital Firsts

Established first modern laboratory in Des Moines1938

1942Founded nation’s first treatment center for polio,

the Kenny Clinic

1957Became first fully air- conditioned hospital in Iowa

1969Offered Iowa’s first

“natural” childbirth service and welcomed fathers

into delivery room

Opened Des Moines’ first Kidney Dialysis Center1971

Introduced city’s first outpatient surgery center

1976 Founded central Iowa’s first Child Psychiatry Unit

1980Opened the area’s first Endoscopy Unit

Established country’s first chemical dependency services for adolescents and first Young Children’s Mental Health Unit (ages 5–9)

1985Opened Iowa’s first

inpatient Eating Disorders Unit

Launched the state’s first program for

comprehensive evaluation and care of children at risk

for potential abuse

1987Opened the first single-room maternity care suites in Iowa, known as the Birth Day Suites

1988Established state’s first comprehensive Multiple

Sclerosis Center

1985

“One special feature of our services— and something other hospitals don’t really offer—

is a longstanding commitment to behavioral health. Our comprehensive program includes inpatient care for every age group, including

children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Iowa Lutheran Hospital has been a community leader in behavioral health services for many decades, and we’re proud to continue that

tradition today.” —Eric Lothe, FACHE, chief administrative officer at Iowa Lutheran

to greet visitors at the front doors. Both Evans and Berberich have worked at Iowa Lutheran for more than a decade, and they say many of the volunteers have been there even longer.

“Visitors are always warmly welcomed, and that ties directly into the culture of our employees and volunteers,” says Eric Lothe, FACHE, chief administrative officer at Iowa Lutheran. “It feels like a family here.”

Rediscover Iowa Lutheran. For tours of our renovated facilities, contact

Vicki Berberich at (515) 263-2210 or Susan Evans at (515) 263-5373.

1975

1983

1987

5UnityPoint Health – Des Moines • unitypoint.org

One-on-one interaction is an integral part of patient care. Now, a new tool called iRound™ for Patient Experience is helping UnityPoint Health – Des Moines use those moments to improve your hospital stay.

Medical professionals at UnityPoint Health – Des Moines perform rounds every day. During rounds, we visit patients and ask questions to make sure all their needs are being met and learn how we can improve their experience.

“Rounding is a simple and effective way to hear directly from our patients,” says Christopher Kirschbaum, RN, MSN, manager of Nursing Services on Younker 7 Medical Surgical Inpatient department at UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. “In my department, our patients are with us anywhere from several days to more than a month. Each of them is seen regularly by the doctors and nursing staff, and each is part of our rounds at least once during his or her stay.”

A New ApproachIn the past, Kirschbaum had to print out

questions to go over with his patients, take handwritten notes during rounds and transcribe

them into a database. The iRound system streamlines that process.

UnityPoint Health – Des Moines medical professionals collect data directly from the iRound application during

rounds. Information is processed right away, and results can be compared, reviewed and acted on the same day. “We’ve had a lot of great feedback about iRound from our

patients and from the staff,” Kirschbaum says. “They can tell we take their comments seriously. I review iRound data every day, so it’s simple for me to address concerns and pass on feedback to our associates in real time. This helps us be proactive instead of reactive.”

Introducing iRound

Putting You FirstThe iRound tracker is just one of the ways we put

patients first at UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. Checking In at Your Bedside

At the change of every shift on Younker 7, the outgoing nurse and incoming nurse meet with each patient at the bedside to discuss the plan of care and goals. It’s called Bedside Reporting, and it helps make the transition as simple as possible and keep patients involved in their own care. This Is a No Pass Zone

An alarm or call light is a priority for all hospital employees, from department heads to housekeeping staff. In fact, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines is a No Pass Zone. That means if there’s an alert, the first associate to pass your door will check in, even if it’s just to find out what you need and report it to the appropriate team.

To learn more about the UnityPoint Health difference, visit

unitypoint.org and select “About.”

“The iRound system went live in December, and we are in the process of growing the program to include all departments. This system helps us

continue giving patients the individual care and experience they deserve.”

—Paige Moore, MHA, marketing and planning information strategist at UnityPoint Health – Des Moines

6 UnityPoint Health – Des Moines • unitypoint.org

Introducing iRound

7

The Food and Drug Administration is proposing several changes to the nutrition label on food packages—the first redesign in 20 years. Officials say the update is necessary to keep pace with the science of nutrition, the fight against obesity and an overall shift in consumer behavior.

Under the changes, serving sizes will be made easier to understand, calories will be featured more prominently and for, the first time, added sugars will be included. A recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the number of people who rely on nutrition labels when they’re grocery shopping is on the rise. About 42 percent of working-age adults and 57 percent of older adults now say they consider the nutrition label when they’re selecting their food.

Changes to the New Nutrition Facts LabelSome changes in the proposed labels include: • A refreshed format that emphasizes certain elements,

such as calories, serving sizes and percent daily value• A label that displays, “added sugars.” On average,

Americans eat 16 percent of their daily calories from sugars added during food production.

• Elimination of the listing “calories from fat.” Total, saturated and trans fat will still be required.

• A more prominent listing of the number of servings per package. In addition, “amount per serving” will now have the actual serving size listed instead of “amount per cup.” Many brands attempt to make their products look healthier by listing the nutrition facts for an artificially small serving size.

• Listing for levels of potassium and vitamin D, two nutrients many Americans need more of in their diets. Levels of vitamins A and C content will no longer be required on the label.

Did you know food labels in the United States are getting a makeover that aims to reduce the nation’s chronic health woes?

We Can Help!Eating a healthy and balanced diet is one of the

best things you can do for your body.The Nutrition Centre located at Iowa Methodist

Medical Center and Iowa Lutheran Hospital offers a variety of services and programs from registered dietitians to keep you healthy.

With obesity and obesity-related illnesses on the rise, the Nutrition Centre understands the health care needs and problems that you face on a daily basis. Our registered dietitians can create a nutrition package developed specifically for you that will guide you to healthier living.

For a listing of classes and programs offered by

the Nutrition Centre, visit unitypoint.org and search

keyword “nutrition.”

7

Calories and Sugar

UnityPoint Health – Des Moines • unitypoint.org

This publication in no way seeks to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult your physician

before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting

any exercise program or dietary guidelines. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact us at (515) 241-6302

or visit unitypoint.org. To be removed from our mailing list,

please call (515) 241-6302.

onManage their health. On your schedule.

MyUnityPoint is an online app from UnityPoint Health. From your computer, tablet or smartphone, you can request doctors’ appointments, see test results, refill prescriptions, read messages from your care team, and review your health history. And you have access to your children’s medical records too. Best of all, it gives you what you need to manage your family’s health, on your schedule. Take five minutes to sign up, and your account will be activated soon so you can start tracking your health.

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